Battle at Kunlun Summit

Except for a very few people, most had no idea about the high-level discussion of the Dao deep within the courtyard.

Under Master Chen’s arrangements, Matt and the other two came to the training grounds to study alongside everyone else.

The three were not weak, and all had undergone systematic training. But K’un-Lun had its own methods, more traditional and more time-tested, which would be of great help to them.

That was Old Wang’s real reason for bringing them here.

Television could only convey so much. True Martial Arts Masters were like the great martial artists from wuxia novels.

With the Essence Wine Old Wang provided, the three of them were practically eating Shiquan Dabu Pills or snake gallbladders as daily meals. Their reserves of True Qi were already not far behind those of Martial Arts Masters. What they lacked instead was external training and combat techniques.

Old Wang had no time to teach them. This place was the best training ground.

None of them lacked intelligence, and they learned quickly.

This life of casting everything aside to focus solely on martial arts was also a rare pleasure for them. Far from the turmoil of the mortal world, they could see themselves more clearly, examine themselves, and better themselves.

The appearance of three white men at the training grounds quickly drew the attention of the other white men.

The white men, including Danny Rand, gathered around to ask about the outside world.

To stand out among so many people and become the Iron Fist, even if he was the weakest Iron Fist in history, Danny still had talent. But because he was young and had yet to cultivate Qi, he was nothing more than a kid in front of Daredevil.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains, and seven days flashed by.

Master Chen was not only an old spinster, but also a blabbermouth.

She was a master and also a member of the Council of Elders. After settling Matt and the other two, she received notice to attend the lectures with the other elders. That very afternoon, more than half the elders left—

It was too advanced. They could not understand a thing.

It felt like a Bronze-ranked player entering a King-level match.

Of course, that did not stop her from boasting everywhere.

Early the next morning, news spread throughout K’un-Lun:

A Grandmaster surnamed Wang was discussing the Dao with the Jade Emperor and Lei Gong at Kunlun Summit!

Soon afterward, news of the battle on the mountaintop platform gradually spread as well. Only then did people learn that the Jade Emperor and the Five Great Elders were not the other side of that climactic showdown.

It was Grandmaster Wang.

For a time, everyone discussed it and speculated.

The Jade Emperor’s strength had long been deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds. In the eyes of most people, although Grandmaster Wang had defeated Lei Gong, he seemed to have taken quite a while. Back then, the Jade Emperor had defeated Lei Gong in less than three seconds.

Some elders who knew the truth hesitated for a long time before finally blurting it out:

Although Grandmaster Wang had taken a full five seconds, he had actually used only two moves, while the Jade Emperor had used three!

That comparison naturally failed to convince anyone. The person who could better explain the situation was Master Chen.

Every morning, the old spinster would run over and pretend to listen to the lectures. Then she would return in the afternoon and boast.

"Today, Lei Gong spoke of the Dao. Though he only demonstrated a few moves, wind and thunder followed him wherever he went. Every word and every action carried Thunderfury!"

"Huh? I thought thunder meant it was going to rain. Lei Ou, everyone went home to bring in the laundry, but it only rumbled a few times and never rained. So it was Lei Gong making a move?"

"Today, the Jade Emperor spoke of the Dao. With a few light palms, his face did not redden and his heart did not race. Everything came naturally, man and heaven as one!"

"The Jade Emperor was wrapped head to toe in blue robes. How did you know his face did not redden? And if his heart was not beating, wouldn’t he be dead? Still, it might not be impossible. The Jade Emperor was already a Grandmaster centuries ago, and he is skilled in the Turtle Breath Technique. Maybe his heart only beats once a day."

"Today, Grandmaster Wang spoke of the Dao. First he spoke of wind, then earth, then water and fire. When he spoke of wind, the wind rose. When he spoke of earth, the ground shook. When he spoke of water, water gathered. When he spoke of fire, flames were born. Finally, he spoke of nature, and every living thing atop Kunlun Summit began to grow. The weeds all over the ground shot up more than thirty feet!"

"Really? You’re making that up, right?"

"Why would I lie to you? Let me tell you, many wild beasts that had gained sentience came to the mountain then. There was an old white ape over a hundred years old, descended from the one that ran off and taught swordsmanship to Yue Maiden Aqing. It even asked Grandmaster Wang for guidance in swordsmanship!"

"That’s even more ridiculous. A beast can talk? And Grandmaster Wang can understand it?"

"What do you know? They communicated through their minds! Grandmaster Wang patted the old ape on the head and said, ‘An immortal strokes your crown, and your bound hair receives eternal life.’ Then he spent ten minutes braiding two little pigtails. The old ape suddenly understood, rose to its feet, and cupped its hands in salute. It looked just like a human. Even the Jade Emperor and Lei Gong nodded in praise, saying the old ape had gained enlightenment and attained immortality. It would surely surpass its ancestor in the future, and might even become as eternal as Shou-Lao!"

"That makes me want to take Grandmaster Wang as my master too…"

"Wait until you become a master first!"

"Master Chen, why are you carrying two jars of wine and hauling pots, bowls, and utensils? Three Grandmasters discussing the Dao surely do not eat or drink. They can live on the wind and dew!"

"What do you know! Yesterday, Lei Gong asked a question: what is the Dao? Guess what happened?"

"Stop dragging it out. Tell us!"

"Lei Gong answered his own question. He said the Dao was the sun and moon moving through the heavens, rivers flowing across the earth, clouds gathering, rain falling, lightning flashing, and thunder roaring."

"What about the Jade Emperor?"

"The Jade Emperor said the Dao was law, the growth of all things, the transformation of heaven and man. If you understood, you understood. If you didn’t, you didn’t… Anyway, I didn’t understand."

"What did Grandmaster Wang say?"

"Grandmaster Wang said the Dao was filling your stomach when you were hungry, drinking two jars of old wine when you were thirsty. It was firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea; music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers. It was working at sunrise and resting at sunset. It was how to make a good meal… Grandmaster Wang is cooking personally today and treating us to something delicious!"

"Th-this is a discussion of the Dao. How did it turn into eating?"

"Gurgle, gurgle… What should I do if I want to eat too…"

"But you didn’t bring any vegetables or fruit, and you didn’t prepare any chicken, duck, fish, or goose. Are you going to steam the northwest wind or braise Kunlun snow?"

"Nonsense! Remember that old ape? Grandmaster Wang said it was in charge of this. There will be plenty of good food and drink. Grandmaster Wang even said he wanted dragon meat, but the Jade Emperor and Lei Gong would not allow it. So Grandmaster Wang said they were going to slay a dragon in a few days anyway, so why not have Shou-Lao make an advance contribution?"

"That’s blasphemy against the gods… Still, what does dragon meat taste like? I heard it tastes about the same as donkey meat?"

While everyone else was astonished, Matt and the other two remained calm.

Only after coming here did they learn that Master Wang was not a Martial Arts Master, but Grandmaster Wang.

The higher they looked up to Master Wang, the more they realized how unfathomable he was. Just when they thought they had grasped the limits of Master Wang, they discovered that he was actually an abyss. Even if they were Azure Dragons, they could not reach his depths.

He was unfathomable.

That made them proud.

Even if Master Wang’s title changed again one day, becoming "Grandmaster Wang," "Wang the Demigod," or "Wang the Mystic," they would not find it surprising.

The days passed, and everyone made their own progress.

Then one day, Master Chen came to the training grounds with an excited face. Even her voice trembled, and her tongue was twisting over itself.

"It’s begun, it’s begun! The greatest climactic showdown in five hundred years has begun!"

"At dusk, the Jade Emperor and Grandmaster Wang will battle at Kunlun Summit!"

Less than half a day after the news spread, half of K’un-Lun had gathered at the foot of the mountain.

The young people clamored to go up the mountain, while the elders hurriedly scolded them.

You dared approach a battle between Grandmasters? Did you have a death wish?

They said raising children was for old age. You could not make me, a white-haired old man, bury a black-haired child! Besides, I still had a one-hundred-and-twenty-year-old grandmother to support and a one-and-a-half-year-old grandson to hold. You were going too far!

Come back! Leave your life behind so you can support me in my old age!

Everyone waited eagerly. Some of the shrewder peddlers had even prepared peanuts, melon seeds, and popcorn, shouting loudly:

"Sharpen your treasured swords! Grind your butcher knives!"

In five hundred years, K’un-Lun had never been as lively as it was today.